George ligowsky



(1W0 Model.)

- G. LIGOWSKY.

FLYING TARGET.

FIG-.1.

FIG-g.

Patented Apr. 11,1882.

N. PETERS. PhMo-Litllogmphor, Wnh'mgtnn, 11.61

UNITED STATES GEORGE LIGOWSKY, OF CINCINNATI,

PATENT Orrrcaio 01110, Asstenoe TO THE LIGOWSKY FLYING TARGET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,227, dated April 11, 1882.

Application filed February .21, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE LIGOWSKY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying Targets, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a flying target or clay pigeon in such a manner as to insure the utmost stability of axial rotation when projected from a trap or sender, and cause the device to descend gradually, provided it is not destroyed by shot or other projectiles fired thereat. These results are accomplished I 5 by providing such targets or substitute birds with a concave body or shell, terminating at bottom with an inwardly-bent rim, which rim not only adds to the axial rotation of the device by increasing its peripheral weight, but

serves as a chamber or channel in which airis moderately compressed, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

My invention further consistsin joining the concave body of the target to this iuturned rim by an intermediate member having a reverse curve to said rim, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

, In the annexed drawings, Figure lis a plan of my improved form of target or clay pigeon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged axial section of the same.

The body A of the target, pigeon, or

bird, as it is variously termed,is concave in general contour, and is preferably composed of clay or earthenware or other material sufficient- 3 5 1y fragile or brittle to break or shatter when struck with shot or similar projectiles. This body terminates with a marginal rim, B, bent inwardly so as to afford a concave chamber or annular channel of any appropriate degree of 4 curvature, an intermediate member, D, serving tojoin said body and rim.. Furthermore,

this intermediate member is curved reversely with reference to the rim, thereby preventing the formation of an angle at the j unction of the body with said rim and causing the pigeon to fly with less resistance against the air.

Projecting-laterally from the exterior of rim B is a lug or'tongue, C,which lug may be sepa rate from the target, or it may be integral 5 therewith. This log or tongue is adapted to cially desirable in some cases.

be grasped by thejaw or clamp of the trap or sender and then projected into the air. The bird, when thrown from the trap, receives avery rapid rotation, owing to the weight of rim B, which axial motion of the target causes the air to be thrown outward and moderately compressed or chambered within the concavity or annularchannelofsaidrim. Consequently the weight of the rim coacts with. the compressed air within the same to give stability to the target and prevent it canting overon either side, while the convex exterior of the device causes it to sail or skim through the air with the utmost facility. Having completed its flight, the target descends gradually, provided it has not 6 5 been struck by the sportsman, on the principle of a parachute, and for the further reasons stated in the preceding paragraph.

While I have described the target as composed ofa fragile material, the invention is not to be limited to this or any other substance, as the present construction enables the device to be rcadily'spun up from a suitable metallic blank, which metallic target would be espe Finally, the reverse curve Djoining the rim to the body is not to be considered as an essential feature of the target, and may be omitted, it'desired, as all the advantages of the invention will be attained by any target having an approximately concavebody provided with aninwardly-turned rim or air-chamberin g receptacle.

I claim as my invention 1. A flying target concave in general form, as at A, but having the edge or rim turned in at B to insure a rapid andstable axial rotation when thrown in the inverted position herein described, whereby a gradual descent of said target is caused by the imprisonment of air within its concavity, substantially as set forth. o

2. A flying target composed of a fragile material that will readily shatter or break when struck with shot, said target being concavein general contour, but having its edge or rim turned in at B, to insure a rapid and stable axial rotation when thrown in theinverted position herein described, whereby a gradual descent of the target is caused by the imprisonment of air within its concavity, substantially as set forth. 10c

3. A flying target concave in geueraiform, 5. A flying target consisting of the body A as at A, but having the edge or rim turned in D, having an inturned rim, B, which latter is at B, to insure a rapid and stable axial rotaprovided with a projecting lug or tongue, (J, tion whenthrown in the inverted position herefor the purpose described. I 5 5 in described, said rim being provided with a In testimony WhereofI affix my signature in peripheral projection, G, forthe purpose stated. presence of two witnesses.

4. A flying target consisting of a concave body, A, united to the iutnrned rimB by an in- GLORGE LIGOVVSKY' termediate member, I), which latter is curved Witnesses:

1o reversely with reference to said rim, for the JAMES H.11AYMAN,

purpose herein described. SAML. S. CARPENTER. 

